EducationAssociation members, through the fund, support a variety of educational projects directed at rabbit owners and the veterinary profession, helping both to look after rabbits better. For example, RWF leaflets can be found in veterinary surgeries, rescue centres and pet shops across the UK.

Pet Shops Charter
Although we are fundamentally opposed to the sale of rabbits in pet shops, we must be pragmatic and accept that as long as there is a demand from the general public it will be a fact of life. Therefore we are working with pet shops and encouraging them to stock our leaflets so that potential or existing rabbit owners have access to the correct information. This has been a great leap forward as up until now the current players in the pet chain market have refused to have any information available to customers, other than the information their head office provided. . We intend to continue to communicate with pet shops, otherwise how will we be able to change their opinion towards rabbits and educate rabbit owners?

GrantsThe fund also offers grants to pay for humane clinical research. investigating specific health problems. Such work is desperately needed if the understanding of common health problems in rabbits is to improve.

Please note, the RWAF will not sponsor any research that harms rabbits.

CampaignsEvery year, the RWAF runs a campaign, usually around Easter, in order to highlight issues affecting rabbit welfare. In the past these have included:

Rabbits need SECS (Space, Exercise, Companionship and Stimulation);

Hot Cross Bunnies - how rabbits can suffer in the heat;

The plight of rescue rabbits;

The importance of vaccination;

Looking after long-haired rabbits; and

Protecting rabbits against Flystrike.

Rabbit Welfare Fund Annual Conference
As an organisation we have always held an annual get together, but in 2002 we switched the emphasis to make it more informative and invited some world class speakers. The conference was very well received and was attended by vets and vet nurses as well as keen rabbit owners. Since then, the conferences have been bigger and better. For more information about the next conference, keep an eye on our news blog, or contact us.

Veterinary ResidentThe RWAF, in partnership with Bristol Zoo, also supports a veterinary resident position at Bristol Vet School. The 'RWF Scholar' is a fully qualified veterinary surgeon (already a knowledgeable rabbit vet) who is gaining additional specific expertise in rabbit and exotic animal medicine. The veterinary resident runs a dedicated Rabbit Clinic at Bristol Veterinary School, seeing rabbits (first opinion as well as referral cases) from South Wales, the south Midlands and the South West of England. The Clinic provides a great service for rabbit owners in the area, but importantly, can also offer advice on managing difficult caases elsewhere in the UK(see our health section). Most importantly of all, the Rabbit Clinic enables hundreds of veterinary students to learn the fundamentals of rabbit medicine from enthusiastic expert rabbit vets. These young vets will be entering practice in the next few years, bringing valuable rabbit knowledge to the profession in the UK and beyond.

Fundraising None of the above could happen without members' subscriptions and generous donations. But we have to work hard with our fundraisng activities in order to support our work. Some people have carried out fantastic pursuits in their aim to raise money to help rabbits, such as bungy jumping, or leaping out of planes, others simply keep a RWF collecting box at home to stow their loose change. Every effort, no matter how large or small , is vital if we are to continue our important work..

It is wonderful to know that my membership fees and donations are contributing to an organisation dedicated to promoting the welfare of pet rabbits. There is certainly still a lot of ignorance and mis-information about rabbit care out there, and rabbits most definitely deserve better! Cathy Maclean, Cambridgeshire Find out more